Filenews 29 December 2023
Something is wrong with children's toys that are placed on the market and end up with children, if we take into account that 37 out of a total of 162 samples (22.8%) examined by the State Laboratory, were found not to comply with the requirements of the relevant legislation and were deemed unsuitable. The percentage is quite high, considering that every 100 games about 23 were deemed unsuitable.
The relevant audit concerned the year 2022, the last year for which a report of the State Chemical Laboratory was released. The 162 samples of children's toys were tested for a total of 1,558 parameters. The 95 samples concerned plastic soft toys, mainly PVC, for the determination of phthalate content. 47 samples were submitted for mechanical/physical testing, and most were toys intended for infants and children under three years of age. Finally, 20 samples were submitted for the identification of metals that may migrate to children from their construction materials during their use and treatment. The samples were mainly stationery such as coloured pencils, watercolours, chalks, markers, plasticine, etc. and were examined for a total of 17 metals.
The report states that the main purpose of the control of children's toys is to protect children and infants from chemical hazards, i.e. chemicals such as heavy metals, phthalates, etc. found in children's toys to which the child may be exposed, as well as from physical hazards due to their unsatisfactory mechanical and physical properties. In particular, children, as stated in the report, may be at risk either from poor quality materials or from poor construction of toys that can lead to injury or choking.
The Chemical Laboratory also checked the cosmetics, which, in general terms, do not appear to contain dangerous substances.
As mentioned in the report, for 2022, a total of 82 cosmetic samples were tested for a total number of 916 parameters, based on the national control-monitoring-surveillance program and included testing for heavy metals, preservatives and fragrance allergens. Heavy metals (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic, Nickel, Chromium and Cobalt) were tested in face creams and body lotions/lotions/creams. The results were assessed on the basis of the maximum tolerances of German national legislation, which take into account the presence of these metals as contaminants in raw materials and the application of good manufacturing practice. All samples were satisfactory.
